Controlling or Coercive Behaviour - Statutory Guidance Framework
The Home Office has published information on the crime of controlling or coercive behaviour, to assist in identifying, evidencing, charging, prosecuting and convicting the offence.
Issued under section 77 of the Serious Crime Act 2015, this Guidance is "primarily aimed at statutory and non-statutory bodies working with victims, perpetrators and commissioning services", such as the police and criminal justice agencies.
The Guidance notes however, that all organisations and agencies in England and Wales who work with victims or in some way deal with the other consequences of domestic abuse, should have regard to the framework. The Guidance makes specific reference to early years, childcare, schools, colleges and higher education settings and employers more generally, and notes that some of these organisations may have statutory duties to safeguard victims of domestic abuse. The Guidance also provides some examples of how other agencies and services (such as schools) can assist in the identification and support of victims.